Brest go fifth after narrow win over PSV

Brest's brilliant run in the Champions League continued as they moved up to fifth in the table following a hard-fought win over PSV Eindhoven.

Julien le Cardinal scored the only goal two minutes before half-time after PSV failed to clear the ball and the centre-half smashed home from a yard out.

The French side should have doubled their lead early in the second half but Mama Balde dragged his effort wide and then his heavy touch when racing through on goal allowed PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez to gather.

PSV's Ismael Saibari then came close to equalising when his terrific effort from outside of the box struck the inside of the post.

The Dutch visitors thought they had been awarded a penalty for handball but a video assistant referee (VAR) review deemed Joey Veerman's shot to have struck the thigh of Abdoulaye Ndiaye.

Mathias Pereira Lage missed a huge chance to wrap up the victory for Brest but his sliding effort was well anticipated by Benitez.

Eric Roy's Brest - who were an amateur side 20 years ago - have won four of their six Champions League games as they sit in an automatic qualification spot while PSV are 20th, with the top 24 teams out of 36 making the knockout rounds.